CHAPTER 16) Missing ***TRIGGER WARNING***

During the excitement of the previous night, Tom had not heard or checked his phone. The house phone had rung a couple of times but everybody had ignored it as the entire family had tried to make sense of everything that had happened and had been said that night. Tom was lying in bed and he couldn’t be bothered to move. He just wanted to hide away for the day. He closed his eyes when he heard his text message ringtone on his phone sound. He picked up his phone and saw that he had seven missed calls and four unread text messages. He read the text messages in times order as they were all from Melanie. “Hey Tom just wondered if Amelia was still with you as she is not answering her phone. Mel x”. He closed the message and then flicked onto the other one. “Hi again it’s getting late and not heard from you or Amelia, is everything okay?” Tom’s heart began to race; he dreaded what the next message from Mel would say. “Please answer your phone Amelia’s not home and its gone midnight ring me please when you get this. Mel x”. Tom hoped that the final message said that Amelia had gotten home safely. “Tom pick up phone now! Amelia not been home all night! Help?” Tom got dressed hurriedly, looking rather dishevelled but he knew that he had to be with Melanie and her family right now.

Tom pulled up outside Amelia’s house and Melanie came running out of the front door towards him. “Have you got her, is she okay?” Melanie panicked, with slight hope in her voice. Tom shook his head. “What happened, where did she go?” Melanie started to quiz Tom. She had clearly been awake all night. Her eyeliner and mascara had smudged and her hair was messy. She looked like she could do with a good long sleep. She invited Tom into her sitting room, where her mum and dad were also sat. “Oh Tom why did you not text us to say Amelia had left?”  Trevor asked. Catherine, Trevor and Melanie looked shattered, worried and were filled with panic. Tom took a deep breath and began to explain. “Well she was with me. We began to have an argument and my brother tried to intervene. I saw all the cuts on her body. I knew something was wrong. She shouted in front of both of us that Lewis had raped her. There was a bigger scuffle and I was confused. I told everyone to get out and leave me alone. I needed time and some space. My girlfriend and my brother. I was shocked. I shouldn’t have let her out of my sight. I am so sorry”. Tom began to break down in tears. “How come you didn’t answer your phone Tom? We really needed you last night!” Melanie shouted.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I tried to stick up for Amelia when Lewis came to plead his innocence. He attacked me and got arrested. My mum needed me. They know about Lewis. Dad believes Amelia. I think mum does too but won’t admit it. I had to be at home last night. I am so, so sorry. All of this is my fault!” Tom wept.

Catherine and Melanie both put their arms around Tom and comforted him. “You had your own things going on Tom. Don’t blame yourself for any of this; none of this is your fault. We just need to find Amelia and we need your help to tell us where she might have gone. Places where you go together, anywhere you can think of so we can try to find her? We have called the police and they told us to call back if she is still missing after twenty four hours which will be soon.” Catherine tried to comfort Tom and encourage information out of Tom at the same time. “Er well there’s the woods five minutes away from here, we go there a lot. Have you tried calling Katie and Sam? There’s Lily too you could try calling. Has she gone to uni and is hiding up in the computer room or library? I can’t think of anything else”, Tom said. Melanie grabbed him and exclaimed,

“Right, we will go to uni and look for Amelia”.

CHAPTER 15) Accusations ***TRIGGER WARNING***

Hours had passed and Tom was sat on his bed with his head still in his hands. This was all too much to take in. One moment his life was great, almost perfect and the next moment, it had shattered into thousands of pieces. He didn’t know who to trust and what to believe. Lewis had protested his innocence to Amelia’s accusations but Tom had thrown him out of his bedroom. He needed to think and he needed time to get over the shock. He didn’t want to believe that his brother was a monster but why would Amelia lie? He also knew that Amelia had been unstable recently and thought this might be a ploy to get attention, but his brother was heavily into drink and drugs around the time of Amelia’s alleged rape. Tom was confused and he didn’t want to break up his family but he had a gut feeling that his brother was lying.

Tom’s thoughts were disturbed by a knock on his bedroom door. “Bro, can I come in? We need to talk.” Lewis said behind the bedroom door.

“Oh alright, come in then”, Tom sighed.

“Listen mate, I didn’t do anything. I didn’t touch her. You got to believe me when I say that”, Lewis lied.

“I don’t know what to believe. Why would Amelia make this shit up? You were a wreck on drugs when she said you raped her”, Tom said, coldly.

“Oh come on bro you can’t believe this shit. She’s clearly disturbed. Maybe she was raped but I remind her of the guy that did it and she is freaking out. What kind of guy do you think I am?” Lewis argued.

“I don’t see why she would lie. She’s a wreck and she’s only been like this since she met you!” Tom shouted.

“Fuck you Tom. Just fuck you!” Lewis shouted whilst smashing a glass against the wall.

“Why react like this if you didn’t do anything huh?” Tom said aggressively to his brother.

“What an earth is going on in here?” Malcolm demanded, whilst storming into Tom’s bedroom.

The room fell silent. Tom was staring angrily at Lewis and did not take his eyes off him whilst Lewis’ eyes were fixated on Tom’s shaggy, blue carpet.

“Well?” Malcolm asked.

“Ask him Dad. Ask your cunt of a son what he’s done!” Tom hissed. Lewis was now furious with his brother. His eyes filled with malice and he saw the red mist descend. Lewis clenched his fist and punched Tom hard in the face. Tom flinched and was a little dazed. Lewis punched Tom again, hard on the nose and then proceeded to start kicking Tom in the ribs whilst taking a few swings at him. Tom was livid and tried to block Lewis’ punches and kicks and attempted to deliver a few of his own.

“Enough boys. ENOUGH!” Malcolm yelled but his demands fells on deaf ears as his sons continued to fight. Malcolm tried to intervene between the two but the fight had gotten violent very quickly.

“Debbie! Call the police now!” Malcolm barked at his wife.

“Why what’s going on?” Debbie enquired.

“Just fuckin’ call them will you! Our sons are trying to kill each other!” Malcolm shouted. Debbie began scrambling to find a phone to call the police while Malcolm tried to intervene between his sons.

The local police arrived fairly quickly at Tom’s household to break up the fight. “Upstairs”, Debbie said, pointing the police in the right direction. Several police officers ran up the stairs and Malcolm dodged out of their way. When they arrived into Tom’s bedroom Lewis was kicking his brother who was protecting himself on the floor. “Come on lads, break it up”, demanded a very short but stocky police officer. Three officers pulled Lewis away from his brother and pulled him into the room next door, his bedroom. Two officers helped Tom to his feet and sat on his bed with one officer sat next to him and other standing up. “What’s going on son?” the police man who was standing up enquired. “He is a rapist! I know it. He raped my girlfriend some years ago. Then he started punching me and launching at me because he was found out. Arrest him, he’s a rapist!” Tom shouted.

“So after you accused him, he started the fight with you and you retaliated?” asked the policeman sat next to Tom. “Yes, that’s what I said”, Tom said, clearly still angry.

“Rape is a harsh allegation to make, especially against your own brother”, the policeman sat next to him continued.

“He did it. Five years ago. I know it’s hard to prove now. But my girlfriend would never lie about that. Never, never would she lie about that. Around the time she said she was raped my brother used to come home at seven in the morning covered in scratches and cuts. He did a lot of drink and drugs. I know it, lock him up, please lock him up!” Tom said, trying to fight back tears.

In Lewis’ room, the police officers were having difficultly calming Lewis down. “How could he believe that bitch? Stupid dumb fuck!” Lewis ranted, try to barge past one of the police officers stood at the door. “Calm down son or else you will get yourself into more trouble”, warned one of the officers.

“Me in trouble? He fucking accused me of being a rapist! If I called you a rapist you’d want to deck me so don’t give me that bullshit!” Lewis continued to rage, whilst punching a wall.

“Right son if you don’t calm down we will have to take you down the station to calm down”, another police officer warned.

“I aint your fucking son!” the police officers began to start restraining him as Lewis was still being very violent. “Get off me!” he shouted. Eventually, he was restrained by five police officers and was handcuffed.

“Calm down, just calm down. I know you are angry but this isn’t helping anybody and it is not helping you”, a female police officer with long, blonde hair tied in a ponytail began to reason with him. “I didn’t rape her. She’s lying. They’re lying”, Lewis continued.

“This is something that should be discussed when everybody is calm Lewis not while you are angry like this” the female officer continued.

“Am I being arrested?” Lewis asked.

“You are being arrested on suspicion of assault and battery and criminal damage. You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence”, the female officer said. Lewis was now calm and two police officers lead him out of the house and into a cage into the police riot van.

After an hour or so, all the police had left and Tom was left shaking on his bed. “What’s going on hon?” his mother Deb asked.

“I think”, Tom paused, “I think Lewis has raped Amelia.” Malcolm and Debbie turned pale.

“Is that what she’s told you?” Debbie asked.

“Since she met him at my party, she has been extremely weird and has avoided coming here at times when she normally couldn’t wait to come. She’s a mess mum. She has had a complete break down and I think he has been intimidating her. She said it happened at a New Year’s party almost five years ago. Remember mum, he used to come him with cuts and scratches over him. What if that was my girl he raped? What if there were others?” Tom explained.

“Did she tell coppers about it?” Malcolm asked.

“I don’t think so. She was only fifteen I think dad”, Tom said whilst a single tear fell down his cheek.

“I knew we should never ‘ave let him back here Debs. Another life he’s ruined”, Malcolm ranted whilst pacing up and down Tom’s room.

“We don’t know for sure Malc”, Debbie cried.

“I know enough mum. The scars on Amelia’s body tell a story”, Tom said with sorrow in his face.

CHAPTER 14) Amelia's Fate ***TRIGGER WARNING***

“Wh-what?” Tom stuttered. “You can’t be serious Amelia, please tell me this is some sort of sick joke!”

“Of course it’s a sick joke. Why the hell would I even touch her?” Lewis snapped.

“I’m not lying Tom. Please tell me you believe me, please? I am begging you to believe me”, Amelia pleaded.

“You’re crazy and completely barking mad. I suggest you leave now you manipulative bitch!” Lewis ordered.

“Wait! Amelia, when did this happen? I don’t know what to believe right now”, Tom said, who was in shock and confused.

“Almost 5 years ago. And since the party I have had abusive texts from him. He tried it again a few nights ago. Look at my lip Tom! He cut it. He beat me. Melanie saw him. Tom I wouldn’t lie to you. You have to believe me!” Amelia continued to plead.

“Bollocks. Fucking bollocks! She’s lying Tom. The first time I ever saw her was at your party!” Lewis lied.

“Shutup! Just shutup!” Tom shouted, clutching his head in his hands. Amelia began to cradle Tom in her arms but he pushed her away.

“See, he doesn’t believe you now just go! Get the fuck out of here!” Lewis demanded. Amelia let out a loud, ear piercing scream. “Please Tom, I’m begging you! Look into my eyes Tom. I have never lied to you!” Amelia shrieked, who was now hysterical and in tears. She looked at Lewis, who was looking down at the floor. Amelia began filling with rage and launched herself at Lewis. “You bastard! You fucking bastard! Tell him the fucking truth!” she raged.

“Just get out Amelia. Just go home!” Tom demanded.

Amelia’s heart sank. Why did her boyfriend not believe her? How could he believe his lying toe rag of a brother? She looked at Tom, straight in the eye. “Please”, she pleaded but Tom did not reply. Amelia took a large gulp followed by a large, deep breath and then stormed out of Tom’s house. Her head was racing with thoughts. When Amelia really thought about it, she realised that she was a fool thinking that Tom would ever believe her. After all, she was a good for nothing, dirty whore. She began walking at a fast pace. She did not know where she was going, nor did she care. She needed to escape.

It had begun to turn dark and Amelia was still walking. She had walked for miles and did not recognise where she was. She was walking down a long, quiet country road. At each side of the road was a rickety, wooden fence with barbed wire on, which she assumed would keep the animals from escaping from the nearby fields. “You are nothing!” Amelia turned round to see who was talking but nobody was there. “Go get trampled by that horse you disgusting bitch!”

“Stop it, leave me alone!” Amelia snapped.

“Listen to me. Listen to me. You are nothing. NOTHING! You must die. You must die to make everything better. No one can be happy with you around”.

Amelia began to think harder. It certainly seemed that nobody was happy with her around. She had noticed that everyone around her had become miserable. Her parents and sister were worried about her, Tom didn’t want her around and Lewis enjoyed taunting her. Maybe this person, whoever they were, was right. Maybe she did need to die.

CHAPTER 13) Arguements ***MAY TRIGGER***

The mood in the household was rather sombre the next morning. Nobody had had a wink of sleep and everybody stayed out of Amelia’s way. Amelia eventually surfaced from her bedroom at midday. She looked tired and had bags under her eyes. Her hair was thrown back into a scruffy ponytail and was wearing no makeup and was wearing a very baggy tee shirt and tracksuit bottoms. “I’m going out”, Amelia announced.

“No you’re not young lady. You’re staying here where we can make sure you’re safe until you have seen the doctor. I have managed to get you in for an evening appointment today instead”, Catherine said.

“Don’t you get it woman? There’s nothing wrong with me!” Amelia exclaimed.

“Don’t speak to your mother like that!” Larry said, disapproving of his daughter’s bad attitude.

“Oh just fuck off the lot of you. I will live my life how I want to live it. Anyway I’m going to Tom’s”, Amelia stated.

“You aint driving!” Melanie ordered, whilst grabbing Amelia’s car keys from the car key wrack.

“Fuck it! I’ll walk then”, Amelia said with slight rage in her voice.

“Don’t be stupid Amelia. I’ll drive you there”, Larry insisted.

Amelia slumped into her dads BMW. She did not want to speak to him and there was an awkward atmosphere between the two of them. Larry finally broke the silence. “You’re gonna have to give us a break Amelia. We want the best for you. We’re just worried. It hurts to know that my little girl is unhappy and is hurting herself.”

“Where did you get that impression from?” Amelia snapped.

“Your sister. She told us that you had been cutting yourself”, Larry said.

“She had no right. It was a one time thing. I am just sick of being hassled. I’m dealing with this. Just leave me to get on with it”, Amelia lied. Larry let out a big sigh. After ten minutes, they had reached Tom’s house. “Give me a ring when you want picking up or let me know if Tom is dropping you off”, Larry said. “Bye”, Amelia said unenthusiastically.

“I’m sorry if I upset you baby”, Tom said apologetically to Amelia, whilst holding her on his bed.

“It’s okay”, said Amelia.

“I love you”, Tom said lovingly. Amelia then gave Tom a kiss on the lips. He held her by her hips and began to kiss her passionately. They had been kissing passionately for fifteen minutes when Amelia felt Tom’s hand creep up her leg. She pulled away. “Don’t”, Amelia said.

“Why?” Tom asked who was clearly feeling deflated.

“Because I don’t want you to touch me”, Amelia stated.

“What’s wrong with me? Am I unattractive? Don’t you want me? There’s someone else isn’t there? I knew it Amelia, don’t lie to me. Don’t deny it!” Tom said angrily, raising his voice.

“No Tom, you are so wrong. But I don’t deserve you”, Amelia mumbled, whilst playing with the string on her tracksuit bottoms.

“Oh cut the crap Amelia. For the past couple of months you have gone completely off me. You won’t kiss me, you won’t hug me, and you barely even talk to me. At least have some decency and tell me the truth!” Tom demanded. He was angry and upset. He wanted answers but Amelia refused to say anything. She sat on the bed in silence, whilst tears trickled down her tired, pale face. “Well say something then!” Tom shouted.

“I can’t”, said Amelia who sounded as if she had now hit a new low.

“Well get out then!” Tom ordered. Amelia scrambled off the bed but tripped over one of Tom’s trainers that he had not tidied away. As she fell her baggy tee shirt rode up her body, revealing her butchered torso. Tom’s heart sank and Amelia began to panic. “Wait wait, I’m sorry baby”, Tom apologised while he aided Amelia back onto her feet. “Get off, get off me!” Amelia shrieked.

“Please, tell me what’s happening. Please baby, tell me the truth. What is going on?” Tom pleaded. He was frightened and concerned. He was used to seeing cuts and scars on the patients he had encountered on his placement, but not somebody who he truly loved.

“Just let me go! Let me go!” Amelia screamed. Lewis rushed into the room, just as Amelia had clenched her fist, ready to hit Tom.

“Woah, woah, woah! What an earth is going on here?” Lewis enquired.

“Get him out of here Tom. Get him out of here! Get out you monster. You fucking monster!” Amelia was now hysterical. The sight of Lewis not only repulsed her but angered her too. She began hitting Lewis, as hard as she could with her fists. Tom tried his best to restrain her. He managed to grab her arms so she could no longer lash out at his brother. “Hang on Amelia, Lewis was only coming to see if everything was alright. What is wrong with you?” Tom said, still struggling to restrain his girlfriend.

“He’s come to torture me. He wants me dead. He’s stalking me. He’s everywhere. He’s going to kill me!” Amelia screamed, trying to get out of Tom’s strong grip.

“What the hell are you on about Amelia?” Tom asked. He was confused. He had no idea why his girlfriend was acting so aggressively and so strangely towards his brother.

“Think someone has a dose of the crazy”, Lewis said, smirking slightly.

“I’M NOT CRAZY! You have done this. All of this!!” Amelia continued to scream.

“You’re not helping Lewis”, Tom warned his brother.

“Oh for fucks sake Tom. How can you stand for this? She’s treated you like shit and she’s clearly unstable and it’s making you unhappy. Just throw her out. Do yourself a favour mate”, Lewis informed his brother. He was beginning to feel uneasy. He knew Amelia was hysterical and that she could blurt out his sordid secret any minute. He wanted her out the house as quickly as possible.

“You would say that wouldn’t you? After all you have done to me. He’s tortured me baby he’s tortured me”, Amelia was sobbing harder than she ever had done before.

“Get out Amelia. Tom clearly doesn’t want you here so just get out!” Lewis ordered Amelia.

“What do you mean Amelia? Tell me!” Tom urged Amelia. He was desperate to know what was going through her mind. He loosened his grip on her and held her hand.

“You really want to know?” Amelia asked. Tom nodded his head whilst holding Amelia by her soft, porcelain coloured hands. Lewis began to look rather sheepish. Amelia looked at Lewis and pointed at him. “He raped me!”

CHAPTER 12) Mirrors ***TRIGGER WARNING***.

It was two o’clock in the morning and Amelia was still distressed. She could not believe that her secret was out. She could not believe that her world was about to fall apart more than it already had done. She couldn’t tell Tom, she knew she couldn’t. She couldn’t tell the police either. Who would believe her? She was certain that nobody would. Amelia was too frightened to sleep in the dark so she had turned her light on. She was paranoid and on edge, everywhere she turned she could feel Lewis staring at her.

Amelia looked out of the corner of her eye and quickly turned her head away. There was a tall, dark shadow of a man standing in the corner of her bedroom. She looked in the opposite direction but the shadow had moved to the opposite side of the room. Amelia jumped and her eyes were wide open. She looked around the room but there was nothing there. “It’s all in my mind”, Amelia convinced herself. She thought it would be best to take some time out of her room as she was feeling so paranoid. She went downstairs into the kitchen and helped herself to a glass of milk. She was leaning on the kitchen counter when she thought she heard someone talking. “It’s Mel sleep talking or coming to stalk me”, Amelia thought. Amelia was also a little hungry as she had not eaten properly for weeks, so she had a look in one of the kitchen cupboards. She was reaching for a packet of ready salted crisps when she heard somebody whispering to her. “Talk to me. Talk to me”.

“What?” Amelia asked nervously.

“I know your secrets. Talk to me. Talk to me”.

“Go away!” Amelia demanded.

“You’re nothing. You don’t deserve life. You’d be better off dead”. Amelia began to sob.

“What do you want from me? Why won’t anyone leave me alone?” Amelia cried.

“You will lose. I hate you. Don’t eat that, you’ll get fatter”.

“I hate you, I hate you!” Amelia yelled whilst running up the stairs back into her bedroom. She slammed the door and took a deep breath.

Amelia hid under her covers. She didn’t know who was talking to her, or why, but she didn’t want any more torment. She thought that Lewis had made one his friends spy on her and harass her until she went insane. It had been ten minutes or so of complete silence, so Amelia closed her eyes in the hope that she would soon fall asleep.

“You’re horrible. You’re ugly. You’re fat. You’re a cheap fuck. A dirty whore. Nobody wants you. Do us a favour and die”. Amelia blocked her ears with her hands. “Stupid dirty whore. Stupid dirty whore. Stupid, ugly, dirty whore. Run, run, go and run”. Amelia jumped out of bed and fell on her knees, with her head in her hands. What had she done so wrong? What had she done to deserve this torment?

Still on her knees, Amelia glanced in her mirror. He was there again. A tall, dark shadow and this time she could make out a face but could not make out any features. She glanced at her television and could still make out a tall shadow. Everywhere Amelia looked, he was there, staring at her. She was frightened and was convinced that this unknown man would kill her. “If I smash my mirrors I won’t see him”, Amelia pondered. She began smashing up her bedroom mirrors and anything that she could see her and the mysterious man’s reflection in.

“Amelia what the hell is going on?” Melanie demanded as she and her parents came rushing into Amelia’s bedroom. “I had to get rid of him. He was staring at me”, Amelia explained.

“Who was staring at you baby?” Catherine asked, trying to hold back her tears.

“The man. He was staring at me in my mirror”, Amelia said. Melanie, Catherine and Larry all looked at each other with expressions of confusion and worry.

“He’s not here now Ams. He’s gone”, Melanie said whilst holding her sister in her arms. Larry fetched Amelia a towel as she had cut her hands on the sharp shards of smashed glass.

“Do you need to go to hospital or anything, I can take you down now”, said Larry, with concern in his voice.

“I’m fine. It’s just a bit of blood”, Amelia reassured her dad.

“We made you a doctors’ appointment for two days time Amelia. We have been worried about how stressed you are. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?” Catherine fussed.

“It’s none of your business. No one understands. I am fine. Why can’t any of you see that? I don’t need doctors. I need you out of here. Go on, get out!” Amelia ordered angrily.

“I’m not going anywhere while you’re like this Amelia. You’re not fine. You’re a mess. You need help!” argued Melanie.

“Get the fuck out!” Amelia screamed. She then launched herself at her sister and pushed her to the floor.

“You have lost it Ams. Completely lost it”, Melanie said whilst getting up and storming out of Amelia’s bedroom. Everybody left the bedroom promptly. Amelia began sobbing and collapsed in a heap on the floor.